How Indigenous leaders translate global talk into local action

Sunday 21 May 2017

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are collaborating
with an international research group and Indigenous leaders to investigate how Indigenous
leaders draw on their inner cultural resources to better their and other
communities worldwide.

"Indigenous leaders draw on their cultural identity in their work
as skilled advocates for the rights of their people," said Associate Professor in
Leadership Michelle Evans in the CSU School of
Management and Marketing.

"Indigenous identity is often shaped first and fore most by a
history of oppression and marginalization. This perception of Indigenous
leadership misses the powerful resources cultural identity brings to Indigenous
leaders and their work."

The research project examines how Indigenous social change leaders
draw on their cultural identity for leadership, one that helps them to advocate
for the rights of their communities.

"We want to discover what it means for Indigenous leaders to
develop policy where there is a contest for power and voice," Professor Evans
said.

"In addition, we want to know how Indigenous advocates and their people
use their cultural identity to generate powerful leadership and advance change."

Four researchers and their assistants in leadership studies,
sociology, and political science will identify and work with selected Indigenous
leaders from around the world over the next three years, before, during and
after these leaders participate in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
based in New York, USA.

PhD candidate and CSU Centre for Law and Justice lecturer Ms Annette
Gainsford recently attended the latest meeting of the forum to 'shadow' two
Australian Indigenous executive members of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus.

"Our initial research suggests that to gain human rights locally, Indigenous
leaders used the UN forum to look at their local struggles from different
perspectives, sharing experiences and building alliances that reshaped their local
campaigns," Ms Gainsford said.

"Ironically, leaders also stated that their local campaign wins
often relied upon new strategy ideas from Indigenous leaders facing similar
challenges in other regions.

"In addition, the UN forum is ideal for research as leaders draw
on and perform their identity in a real life situation. They discuss real
claims for local Indigenous rights and social agendas, and transform local
struggles into global language that is recognised by intergovernmental agencies."

The research will impact individual Indigenous leaders and their local
people by documenting their work, allowing critical reflections to develop
model practices in new networks. The researchers will also work alongside them
to further build collective capacity for action to support change in their
communities.

The
research will offer new insights into how Indigenous leadership can be
mobilized to effectively develop voice and political participation true to
Indigenous cultures, while strengthening the public presence of these leaders.